Building a Strategic Action Team

Texas Department of State Health Services

McAllen, Texas

7/18/07

The Best Team

What are characteristics of a good team?

The Four Agreements

Don Miguel Ruiz Be Impeccable with Your Word Don’t Take Things Personally Don’t Make Assumptions Always Do Your Best

Change and Teamwork

Don’t Burn Your Bridges Do Not Self-Destruct Do Not Over-React Do Not Say Anything You Will Regret Later Do Not Begin Your Own Silent Protest DO Maintain Your Self Esteem DO Strengthen Your Professional Network

Successful Team Characteristics

Awareness of Unity All team members must have a clear

understanding that they are united to reach a goal Team must be unified Team members must treat each other with

respect The sum of the parts is greater than one

individual

Common Goal

All members of the team must proudly share a sense of why the team exists

Team members must take ownership and be committed to the common goal of the team

Good to Great: flywheel

Strategic Action Plan

Each team member must know his or her role and responsibility

Team members should have a strategic action plan

Action steps clearly defined Mission statements

Conflict Resolution

Conflict will arise between team members There should be a plan for resolving conflict Team members should know the rules about

resolving conflict Major decisions should be made primarily by

consensus Settle conflicts at the lowest level possible

Share Success

Everyone has a desire to succeed Team members can share success equally Keep team members informed about success

Steps to Resolve Conflict

Decide Do you want to work things out?

May want to wait until you are no longer angry Does the other person want to work things out

May be too emotional to discuss If you are a “bystander” and not the angry person

or the target of the angry person, is it appropriate for you to get involved?

Steps to Resolve Conflict

Be Direct Go to the right person (instead of talking to

everyone else) Clearly define your goals and/or purposes Let go if you have no way to solve the anger

Steps ….

Acknowledge Feelings Acknowledge anger Allow person to talk about what is upsetting

them listen

Find something in Common Can diminish anger

Steps….

Depersonalize Don’t take everything as a personal attack Don’t read minds It is about them Is it work related?

What are you doing to contribute to the problem? Focus on mission/clients

Is it a personal attack? Ask other person to focus on work

Steps….

Get to the Real Issues Paraphrase what you think is the real problem Ask for clarification of the problem Determine common goal Try to reach a consensus

Steps….

Let Go You may be disappointed that problem can’t be

resolved You can only control yourself, not others Focus on the positive

Building a Strategic Action Team

Be a Good Listener Be Honest and Open Be Open-minded and Positive Focus on the Big Picture Become More Sensitive to the Different

Communication Styles Be Trusting Be Responsible